Story Game Sunday continues its exploration of what is possible in a roleplaying game. Yesterday we played Liam Burke ‘s Dog Eat Dog. This one is about colonized people, and whether they will resist their occupiers or assimilate. It was originally designed as a classroom exercise to teach students about imperialism and the Pacific islands.
This one is pretty intense, to say the least, and it is excellent. To get players in the mood, you actually have a conversation about which player is the richest. That player then becomes the Occupation, while everyone else is a Native. From there, you go around the table and have scenes. At the end of each scene, the Occupation player will determine if each Native in the scene obeyed the ever-increasing list of rules called The Record (the first rule, “The [occupiers] are superior to the [natives],” is always in play). Those Natives who obeyed a rule are given a token for doing so. Those who disobeyed a rule lose a token. Natives who have six tokens by the end are assimilated into the Occupation culture. Those who lose all their tokens essentially rise up in rebellion and must die by the end of the next scene they participate in.
The game is extremely fascinating and fun. The way it uses mechanics to enforce power dynamics between the Occupation and the Natives is quite interesting. The Natives have no real power in a scene unless the Occupation allows it. Only when a Native rebels do they gain absolute power over the Occupation – but it is fleeting, since they die afterwards.
Good stuff, indeed. Thanks to Rob Ferguson for organizing things, and also to Daniel Lewis Ferrell Riley and Derek Grimm for an excellent play experience.
Jason Cordova Sounds like a very interesting game. I have looked at this one before but wasn’t really sure how it would play out. Thanks for the write up!
Jason Cordova Sounds like a very interesting game. I have looked at this one before but wasn’t really sure how it would play out. Thanks for the write up!
Sean Smith You should definitely pick it up. Even if you never get it to the table (although you should), it is a good read. The author’s explanation of why he made the game and his motivations for fashioning the mechanics the way he did are fascinating from an RPG-theory perspective (and I love that shit). As I recall, he was interviewed by The Walking Eye some months ago and it was a good discussion.
Sean Smith You should definitely pick it up. Even if you never get it to the table (although you should), it is a good read. The author’s explanation of why he made the game and his motivations for fashioning the mechanics the way he did are fascinating from an RPG-theory perspective (and I love that shit). As I recall, he was interviewed by The Walking Eye some months ago and it was a good discussion.
Jason Cordova I actually own a copy compliments of one of the Bundle of Holding offerings so I’ll just need to carve some time to actually read it. There is a ton of stuff in that queue too hehe.
Jason Cordova I actually own a copy compliments of one of the Bundle of Holding offerings so I’ll just need to carve some time to actually read it. There is a ton of stuff in that queue too hehe.
Sean Smith Oh man, don’t get me started on my Bundle of Holding backlog. Stars Without Number has been mocking me for weeks now. I need to just put it on the calendar, I guess.
Sean Smith Oh man, don’t get me started on my Bundle of Holding backlog. Stars Without Number has been mocking me for weeks now. I need to just put it on the calendar, I guess.